Floating 'slinky' Ark Hotel an oasis at sea

FUTURISTIC see-through bubble hotel that can be adapted to suit both land and water is being billed as a “self-contained oasis”.

The futuristic Ark Hotel is built to withstand natural disasters. Picture: Remistudio

A FUTURISTIC see-through bubble hotel that can be adapted to suit both land and water is being billed as a "self-contained oasis".

Designed as "an integrated energy system with an uninterruptible power supply using alternative energy sources", the slinky-like Ark Hotel uses solar panels and a rainwater collection system to provide inhabitants with power and water.

In pictures: The amazing 'slinky' hotel

The dome-shaped hotel is constructed with wooden arches, steel cables and a “self-cleaning” plastic layer instead of glass.

Further, the 14,000 square metre shell-like construction of arches and cables distributes the weight evenly, meaning it can withstand earthquakes.

It has also been designed to stay afloat in the event of floods or rising seas.

It would be built around a central pillar connecting to roof-top wind generators and heat pumps, as well as to energy storage and thermal conversion units below.

There will also be a “tornado” energy generating spiral at the top of the pillar.

Daylight is filtered through to internal rooms due to the hotel’s see-through structure, reducing the need for lighting.

There will be an array of vegetation to aid air quality and provide food sources.

The Ark project was designed by Russian firm Remistudio with the assistance of the International Union of Architects’ program Architecture for Disasters Relief.

Alexander Remizov from Remistudio said the Ark “is an attempt to answer the challenges of our time”.

In pictures: The amazing 'slinky' hotel